News

Event marks first in a series designed to bring together startup talent and technology companies

Baltimore, MD – Anchor Ventures, a new initiative of University of Maryland Ventures and Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV), funded by the Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO), announced today that it has launched a speaker series aimed at inspiring and supporting the development of startups and other technology companies across Maryland.

The monthly series will feature world leaders in technology and entrepreneurship who will share their experiences and insights to accelerate the efforts of Maryland’s innovation ecosystem builders. The series will cover a range of topics, from ideation to startup development to commercialization.

The inaugural event will include a keynote by Steve Case, AOL Co-Founder, who now serves as Chairman and CEO, Revolution; Founder and Partner, Revolution Growth; and Chairman, Case Foundation. Joining Case to launch the series is a panel of innovation-focused local leaders. A select group of the region’s most promising startups will present to Case during his one-day visit.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Steve Case as our first keynote speaker,” said Christy Wyskiel, the head of JHTV and senior advisor to the president of Johns Hopkins University. “Through the Rise of the Rest initiative, Steve has shown a commitment to cities like Baltimore that are home to high-potential technologies and startups but are often overlooked by investors.”

Anchor Ventures will hold its events on the third Thursday of each month, beginning February 2018.

Kick-off Event Details

“Maryland is awash in world-class technologies, and UM Ventures, JHTV and others committed to developing the region’s innovation ecosystem have added resources critical to startup development, such as state-of-the-art innovation hubs, programming, services and mentorship,” said Tom Sadowski, Vice Chancellor, Economic Development, University System of Maryland. “However, area startups also need a sizable educated, experienced talent pool as well as angel investors who have expertise applicable to the technologies being developed. Anchor Ventures events will attract, retain and train entrepreneurs and investors by spotlighting the resources available in Maryland as well as acting as an opportunity to build networks and identify potential collaborators.”

About Anchor Ventures

The objective of Anchor Ventures is to attract, train, and retain talent at all levels through engagement and education as well as through enhancement of interactions with existing businesses and partners in the region. Anchor Ventures will further the education of entry level and upcoming early career employees, and provide education for early stage investors to better understand/access the types of technologies being created/spun out in our region. The program, started with funding from TEDCO, also will provide networking and connection opportunities across the ecosystem – mentoring by seasoned personnel, connection/collaboration among veteran entrepreneurs, linking of investors and ideas, and creating alliances among anchors and late-stage industry partners. Anchor Ventures’ programming will create a true, regular “anchor” (a venue and a hub of activity) to spotlight resources, as well as excitement about building and participating in an innovation ecosystem. See our website for upcoming event detail: anchorventures.org

About UM Ventures

UM Ventures is a joint initiative of the MPowering the State Program, bringing the University of Maryland, Baltimore and University of Maryland, College Park together to commercialize discoveries, and create economic impact by engaging partners in industry and social ventures. By encouraging students and faculty, providing expert advice and business services, more discoveries will reach the market. By engaging directly with external partners, UM Ventures brings new investment, expanded markets and more startup ventures. Visit www.umventures.org for more information.

About Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures

Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures (JHTV) is the intellectual property administration center of The Johns Hopkins University. In addition to serving as the licensing, patent and technology commercialization office for Johns Hopkins researchers and inventors, JHTV supports the growth of startups in and around the university and is an active liaison to parties interested in leveraging university research or materials for academic or corporate endeavors. In fiscal year 2017, JHTV secured more than $17 million in licensing revenue, had 2,653 active issued U.S. and foreign patents and facilitated the creation of 18 new startups. For more information about Johns Hopkins Technology Ventures, visit http://ventures.jhu.edu/.

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